Origin
Waukesha, WI
Late night in Waukesha on Sunday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waukesha, WI to West Allis, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
12.9 mi
21 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waukesha, WI
Wikimedia Commons
West Allis, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion within Wisconsin, the 12.9-mile journey from Waukesha to West Allis is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 22 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you will not need to worry about overnight accommodations or complicated travel logistics. Budgeting around $2 for fuel should cover your needs for this short commute across the Midwest. By utilizing a mix of local streets and arterial highways, you can complete the transit efficiently. Whether you are heading out for business or a visit, this simple route offers a stress-free way to navigate between these two communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East-West Freeway | 6.5 mi | 8m |
| West Main Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| East Moreland Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South 84th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Greenfield Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Les Paul Parkway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East-West Freeway
— 6.5 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukesha, WI and West Allis, WI.
1
Start on West Main Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
West Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn slight left
406 ft
·
17 sec
3
Turn left onto US 18; WI 164
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Les Paul Parkway
4
Turn right onto US 18; WI 164
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East Moreland Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 94 East
6
Merge onto I 94
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 306
Toward WI 181: 84th Street
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
192 ft
·
4 sec
Toward WI 181 South: 84th Street South, Milwaukee Mile Speedway, Pettit National Ice Center
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto WI 181
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 84th Street
10
Turn left onto WI 59
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Greenfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
11
Arrive at destination
WI 59
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 12.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Main Street
Depart onto West Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
4.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 94 / East-West Freeway
Merge onto I 94 / East-West Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
10.7 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward WI 181: 84th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 306
Toward WI 181: 84th Street
8
11.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WI 181 South: 84th Street South, Milwaukee Mile Speedway, Pettit National Ice Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WI 181 South: 84th Street South, Milwauk...
4
12.3 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
WI 59 / West Greenfield Avenue
Turn left onto WI 59 / West Greenfield Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.02 one way
$4.03 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.21 | $4.43 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.48 | $4.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.85 | $5.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.35 | $0.62 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.13 | $0.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.81 | $0.83 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
West Allis, WI
Late night in West Allis on Sunday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
22 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
22m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition from the local charm of West Main Street and East Moreland Boulevard onto the faster-paced East-West Freeway. With highway travel accounting for 53% of your journey, you will spend a solid portion of the trip at higher speeds. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during a 6.5-mile segment on the East-West Freeway, which provides a steady rhythm before you return to local roads. The character of the drive shifts quickly, requiring you to remain alert as you navigate the varying speed limits and road types. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that gets you to your destination with minimal fuss.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.5 mi on East-West Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Main Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 12.9 miles you will encounter 6 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Waukesha, WI and West Allis, WI, road signs point toward Milwaukee Mile Speedway and Pettit National Ice Center.
Milwaukee Mile Speedway
11.6 mi in
|
~18m
Pettit National Ice Center
11.6 mi in
|
~18m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 22m. Total distance: 12.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6.5 miles on East-West Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at West Allis, WI before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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